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Is it safe to buy gift cards below face value in India?

Yes, if your payment is held in escrow until the code works. The risk in buying a gift card from another person is paying for a code that was already used, sold twice, or bought with a stolen card. Escrow removes most of it: the seller isn't paid until you've checked the code, and if it doesn't work, you get your money back.

What can go wrong

  • The code was already used. A code can be sold twice, or redeemed before you get it.
  • The card was bought with stolen money. The issuer can cancel it later, and it stops working.
  • You paid by UPI straight to a stranger. Once a UPI payment is sent it can't be pulled back, and nobody stands between you and the seller.
  • The discount is too good. A price far below what a card normally trades for usually means one of the problems above.

How escrow protects you on Vendeye

  1. You pay Vendeye, not the seller. Your money is held until you have what you paid for.
  2. You check the code. Reveal it in My Trades and use it on the brand's site or app.
  3. If it works, tap "It works" and the seller is paid. If you don't respond, the seller is paid 24 hours after purchase.
  4. If it doesn't work, report the problem from My Trades within those 24 hours. The money stays in escrow while the dispute is decided on evidence — such as the brand's own confirmation email, and whether the code was listed before.
  5. If it's decided for you, the full amount is refunded to your Vendeye wallet at once. You can spend it at checkout or withdraw it to your bank account (minimum ₹250).

Some codes are bought in when you order. If one can't be delivered within 24 hours, the full amount is refunded.

What discount is normal for each card

Gift cards don't all trade at the same discount. Cards people use like cash sell close to face value; cards with fewer places to spend them sell lower. This is what they traded for in India's person-to-person market in September 2026, as a share of face value:

  • Amazon Pay: 95–97%
  • Flipkart: 94.5–95.5%
  • Amazon Shopping Voucher: 94–95.5%
  • Swiggy Money: 93–94%
  • BigBasket: about 90%
  • Myntra: 88–90%
  • Uber: 85–90%
  • Google Play: 85–92%
  • Tata CLiQ: about 82%
  • BookMyShow: about 80%
  • Domino's: about 70%

A ₹1,000 Amazon Pay card for ₹960–970 is a normal deal. The same card for ₹700 deserves suspicion.

Checklist before you buy

  • Pay through escrow, never by UPI straight to the seller.
  • Check the code as soon as it arrives, not days later.
  • Keep the brand's confirmation email or a screenshot — it's your evidence.
  • Compare the price with what the card normally trades for.
  • If something is wrong, report it before you confirm the code works.

Questions

Who is selling these gift cards?

People who got a card they won't use — a gift, a corporate reward, a card bought to use a bank offer — and would rather have the money. On an exchange they list it below face value, and buyers get the discount.

What if the seller asks me to pay outside Vendeye?

Don't. A payment made outside Vendeye isn't held in escrow, so there's nothing to refund if the code fails.

How long do I have to check a code?

Report a problem within 24 hours of buying, before you tap "It works". After that — or once you've confirmed it — the sale is final.

What happens if I dispute a card payment with my bank instead?

Please report the problem to Vendeye first. A chargeback freezes the trade, and the seller's payment, until your bank decides.